Frederic fowler farlow



F. P. F'ARLOW. LOW WATER ALARM.

(NoModeL) No. 596,060. Patented Dec. 28,1897.

UN TED STATES PATENT FFICE'.

FREDERIO FOWLER FARLOW, OF BOMBAY, INDIA.

LOW-WATER ALARM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 596,060, dated December 28, 1897.

Application filed April 10, 1897. Serial No. 631,603. (No model.) Patented in India February 5, 1897, No. 423.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERIC FOWLER FAR LOW, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at Bombay, India, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Water- Deficiency Indicators, (for which I have obtained Letters Patent or exclusive privilege in India, No. 423, dated February 5, 1897,) of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to a mechanism for giving an alarm, preferably by means of a gong, bell, or the like actuated by a rush of water, when the water-level in the vessel or tank to which it is fitted sinks below a given point.

It consists of a pipe attachment fixed to a hole bored either in the side or bottom of the tank or vessel. A pipe in continuation of this outer pipe attachment is placed in the interior of the tank and fixed to its side or bottom opposite the hole provided for a connection with the exterior pipe. Both the exterior and interior pipes have flanges at their connection with the metal wall of the tank, reservoir, or other suitable receptacle for containing the water. At the upper end of the inner pipe is a cup-shaped receiver with a wide flange at its top, over which is attached a valve-box covering a valve. The top of the valve-spindle passes through a hole in the bottom of a U-shaped bar connected with a ball-float to allow the valve-spindle free action at top, so as to insure a tight-fitting valve.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 shows a sectional elevation of the apparatus secured to the side of a tank. Fig. 2 shows a plan view on the line C D. Fig. 3 shows an elevation of the grating P.

In the drawings, A indicates the side of the tank or vessel to which the apparatus is attached; B, the float, serving to support the valve M,wit-h rubber washer m pressed tightly against its seating by means of spindle K, secured to the float B by means of a nut kwithin a U-shaped bar attached to the float and having a hole through which the spindle passes, so as to allow of oscillations of the float without disturbance of the valve M. The rose-box J has a central hole in its top, through which passes the spindle K, and a series of holes R around its periphery. It is secured to the valve-seat H by bolts or otherwise.

Between the valve-seat H .and the inner bent pipe G is secured the grating or diaphragm P. (Shown in detail in Fig. 3.) The center may obviously be perforated otherwise than shown, provided a sufficient aperture be left for the flow of water. Its object is to arrest the valve M should the same become detached from the float B. I The lower bent pipe G, which supports the device, is secured to the side wall of the tank, as shown, around an aperture in the said wall and in communication with the pipe E, outside the same. This pipe E delivers the Water to the alarm apparatus provided. The ala'rm'apparatus preferably gives an audible signal by means of a gong, bell,wl 1istle, or the like, but is not shown on the drawings, as it forms in itself no part of my invention.

In the event of the liquid in the tank or other vessel falling below a certain level the ball-float, which is kept up by its buoyancy in the water,will likewise fall, and in falling will depress the valve-spindle and open the valve, thereby causing a rush of water into the cup-shaped receiver and down the pipe. At the lower end of this pipe and at, say, twelve feet or other suitable distance above groundlevel is attached a gong, bell, or like device, as aforesaid,actuated by the force of the water passing through the pipe, thereby giving an alarm whenever the water in the tank falls below the required level.

The height of the cup-shaped receiver from bottom or side hole in the tank and also of the valve-spindle may be varied to suit the time during which the alarm is to continue sounding or according to the standard height of water required in the tank.

In the foregoing description and drawings I have set forth my invention in the form which I prefer; butmany' of the details are obviously capable of variation without eX- ceeding the scope thereof. Thus, for instance, the bent pipe G might be made straight and prolonged to an aperture in the bottom of the tank instead of in the side thereof.

I do not limit myself to the precise details described and illustrated; but

What I claim is-- 1. In apparatus for indicating deficiency of liquid in tanks, the combination of a float provided With a U-shaped attachment having a hole at its center, a valve-spindle passing through the hole and loosely secured there in, a reversed valve attached to the spindle, a valve-seatin g covered by a perforated valvebox, a perforated diaphragm beneath the valve, and a tubular connection to the outside of the tank.

2. In apparatus for indicating deficiency of liquid in tanks, a circular valve-seating attached to a discharge-pipe, a reversed valve applied to the said seating, a spindle firmly fixed to the valve at one end and loosely conneeted to a supporting-float at theother, a perforated valve-box with centrally-perforated cover through which the spindle passes and means for preventing the fall of the valve beyond a fixed distance.

I11 testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FREDERIC FOWLER FARLOW.

Wi tn esses:

THOMAS AUGUSTINE BLAND, ERNEST WILLIAM NOBLE. 

